'My Time Is Precious, Judge. What Is Your Question?'

His time is precious? It's not as if this joker has a real job.

A rude, testy Eliot Spitzer blasted his successor's administration while being grilled about the Troopergate scandal, newly released records show.

Spitzer was terse, combative - and seemingly forgetful - in his October sitdown with Inspector General Joseph Fisch to discuss leaks about the Public Integrity Commission's probe of his administration.

Fisch has accused commission Executive Director Herbert Teitelbaum of violating state ethics law by leaking information about the Troopergate probe to a Spitzer aide.

Troopergate refers to accusations that Spitzer aides used the state police to try to smear former Senate Majority Leader Joe Bruno.

Four Spitzer aides were cited for ethics violations. Some investigators believe Spitzer was aware of the smear attempt.

Spitzer, a former attorney general and the self-proclaimed "Sheriff of Wall Street," answered a lot of questions with "I don't recall" or "I don't remember."

He also seemed to lose his patience with his interrogator. At one point, the disgraced governor cut Fisch off, complaining, "My time is precious, judge. What is your question?"

Spitzer, who accused the Paterson administration of leaking personal e-mails, said he was considering filing an ethics violation against the Paterson administration "for whom you work."

For a guy who unleashed the dogs of war upon Joe Bruno to be complaining about leaks takes a special set of stones.

Spitzer should consider himself fortunate to not be in prison for what he's done.

Slinking off into obscurity would be a good idea.